South Africa’s first dual-seat Gripen fighter has made its maiden flight. Painted in South African Air Force colours, the aircraft took off for a 70-minute flight on Friday afternoon from Saab’s flight test centre at Linköping in Sweden, a spokesperson said on Monday.
Gripen spokesperson Linden Birns said South African test pilot Charl Coetzee and Saab test pilot Magnus Olsson were at the controls for the first flight.
During the flight, the test team was able to validate the basic flight-control systems, engine, hydraulics and electrics.
”The flight went better than expected and we were able to demonstrate some additional functionalities,” Coetzee said afterwards.
”The maiden flight of South Africa’s first Gripen is an important milestone which has been achieved earlier than scheduled. This is indicative of the maturity of the Gripen design and the dedicated approach taken by joint Swedish-South African teams to keep the programme on track for customer deliveries commencing in March 2008,” remarked Jerker Ahlqvist, programme director, South Africa.
The aircraft will now undergo a thorough inspection and systems computer interrogation before being prepared for subsequent flight tests later this month.
It will be transferred to South Africa in August next year, where it will participate in a flight-development programme focused on the integration of South Africa’s customised avionics and weapons systems.
South Africa ordered 28 Gripen fighters (19 single-seaters and nine two-seaters) and 24 BAE Systems Hawk advanced jet trainers in 1999.
The Gripen aircraft, which will be delivered from 2008 onwards, will be based at the Makhado air-force base in the Limpopo province.
The combined contract for the 28 Gripen and 24 Hawk aircraft is valued at $2,2-billion (about R14,85-billion).
The Gripen is the first of the new-generation, multirole combat aircraft to enter service.
Using the latest available technology, it is capable of performing an extensive range of air-to-air and air-to-surface operational missions and employing the latest weapons.
The Gripen is designed to meet the demands of current and future threats, while at the same time meeting strict requirements for flight safety, reliability, training efficiency and low operating costs.
The Gripen is in service with the Swedish and Czech Republic air forces and has been ordered by the South African and Hungarian air forces.
The United Kingdom Empire Test Pilots’ School is operating the Gripen as its advanced fast-jet training platform for test pilots worldwide. — Sapa